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Item 1C- 4-22-17 Draft Minutes Town Hall MeetingCITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH TOWN HALL MEETING APRIL 22,2017 at 10:00 AM IN ATTENDANCE: Mayor Mitch Reeves Commissioner Jimmy Hill Commissioner Mitch Harding Commissioner Blythe Waters (Absent) CALL TO ORDER STAFF: Interim City Manager Kevin Hogencamp Human Resource Director Cathy Beny City Planner Derek Reeves Recording Secretary J oanie Bowman Mayor Reeves called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. WELCOME Mayor Reeves explained the purpose of this Town Hall Meeting and thanked the staff and citizens for taking time out of their Saturday to attend the meeting. Mayor Reeves explained the process for public comments. Mayor Reeves introduced Interim City Manager Hogencamp to open the meeting. Interim City Manager Kevin Hogencarnp spoke about issues with the Tree Protection Ordinance. He informed everyone that City Planner Derek Reeves was available to answer questions and will follow up with information. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Mayor Reeves opened the floor to public comments. Susanne Barker, 1938 Beachside Ct., spoke about concerns with the permitting process not being followed and would like to see that process brought back Jane Wiska 352 2nd St., spoke about her perception of what happened to the Tree Board. She believed private property rights was the reason they did away with all of these protections. Mayor Reeves explained that the Beautification Committee may recommend a Tree Board. Gretchen Deters-Murray, 346 Magnolia St., spoke about her concern of how they plan to cover this if there is a shmiage of staff. City Manager Hogencamp explained that Planner Reeves now has the resources to move forward as they have added a pmi-time employee and plan to hire a full-time person to start sometime in May. Agenda Item 1C November 13, 2017 Lori Schwab, 541 Sherry Dr., spoke about the previous Atlantic Beach Tree Board, how well it worked, and her concern with the developers cutting down too many trees. She suggested we have something in place that will continue after this Mayor and Commission, so that our trees are protected. Lisa Harrell, 659 Sherry Dr., concerned about the pervious surface ordinance and whether codes and ordinances are enforced. Commissioner Hill spoke about the Tree Protection Ordinance and the Beautification Committee put in place to protect our trees. Mayor Reeves explained they are changing policies and things should start improving. Interim City Manager explained he believed the pervious surface ordinance was being administered properly and would research that. Ellen Glasser, 2060 Beach Ave., concerned the meeting was getting off track and stated that she did not think that the Beautification Natural Resources Advisory Committee is the magic bullet. It did not appear to her that the direction they are going will give them any teeth. She spoke about the tree canopy and the issues with staff. She commended Planner Derek Reeves for the good job he does for the City. Mayor Reeves explained that the Beautification Committee is only an advisory committee and is in place only to come back with subjective advice. Ellen Glasser, 2060 Beach Ave., spoke about the impervious surface ratio and believes an audit is an excellent idea. Interim City Manager Hogencamp stated that he believes an audit has been done. Mayor Reeves spoke about an on-site audit regarding impervious surface. Commissioner Hill spoke about issues with impervious surface. Ellen Glasser, 2060 Beach Ave., suggested that it may be helpful to the Beautification and Natural Resource Advisory Committee if they have a recommendation on creating or re-enacting the Tree Board. Mayor Reeves stated that the Advisory Committee is aware of the request to form a Tree Board and discussed it at their last meeting. City Planner Derek Reeves stated that Public Works handled the audit and he spoke about the percentages of impervious surfaces and the issues with unpe1mitted work. Mayor Reeves spoke about the permit violations and fines. Minutes-Town Hall Meeting-April22, 2017 Page 2 ofS Agenda Item 1C November 13, 2017 Commissioner Hill spoke about the issues with the tree ordinance and tree replacement when a tree is taken down and suggested that they make tree replacement significant. City Planner Derek Reeves spoke about tree and building permits and the penalty fees. Ellen Glasser, 2060 Beach Ave., spoke about reporting offenders operating without a permit to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Commissioner Hill stated that most offenders are people flipping houses and not contractors. Mayor Reeves inquired if there was a form on our website to file a complaint or repmi a violation. Interim City Manager Hogencamp informed everyone that there is a drop down item on the website that is called the Citizen Request Tracker where citizens' can file a city complaint. City Planner Derek Reeves spoke about tree permitting. He explained approximately half of the removals in the City do not require a permit. A pe1mit is required if you are doing construction $10,000 or more, or removing a legacy tree. City Planner Reeves spoke about the inspection and mitigation process and the use of certified arborists. He repmied that a permit has been applied for on 825 Sheny Street, but has not been issued. Mayor Reeves inquired about the $10,000.00 tree grant and how it was being spent. Planner Reeves explained part of the grant was used to hire a consultant to do a survey of our major arterials and identify the existing trees and where trees could go. We have not done any plans on new plantings. We have the funds available to do that, we just need to start that process at some point. A discussion ensued about developers and contractors hiring an arborist versus using the City's arborist. Commissioner Hill expressed the importance of maintaining the canopy and the character of the neighborhood. Commissioner Stinson suggested incentives to encourage developers to build around trees and perhaps build smaller structures. A citizen suggested education as a component as well as offering information on the tree code. Sally Clemens, 1638 Park Terrace W., inquired about additions and remodeling pertaining to permitting. Planner Reeves stated anytime you are doing a major renovation to your property, trees should be included in the permitting. Citizens inquired about the racism issues occuning in the City of Atlantic Beach. Minutes-Town Hall Meeting-April22, 2017 Page 3 ofS Agenda Item 1C November 13, 2017 The Commission and Mr. Hogencamp discussed the complaints that were made against the City and explained the allegations would be given their full attention. A citizen inquired about the status of the Public Works Director. Interim City Manager explained that the Public Works Director resigned this week and they have divided the Public Works Department into two different depmiments; the Public Works Department and the Public Utilities Department. Mr. Hogencamp stated Scott Williams is leading our Public Works Depmiment and Kale Moore is leading our Public Utilities Department. A citizen inquired about the status of the City Manager position. Interim City Manager Hogencamp explained that by late May or early June, they will be introduced to three to five finalists for the position, will interview the finalists, and hope to extend an offer to someone at that time. Mayor Reeves inquired about the status of the Police Chief position. Interim City Manager Hogencamp explained they will be interviewing candidates in the next couple of weeks, pending a criminal background check and other due diligence, and will make an offer shortly thereafter. Mayor Reeves repmied the Public Safety Building is coming along and should be opening sometime in May. Interim City Manager Hogencamp thanked the Commission and the citizens, and stated they cannot do this without them. A citizen mentioned that the front reception and the police department do not communicate very well and was unaware that you have to dial a 9 before dialing out. Commissioner Harding thanked the citizens for coming out and getting involved. It takes community involvement to know what your issues are. Commissioner Hill thanked the citizens for their time and energy towards the community and said that is what makes Atlantic Beach what it is. He believed these meetings are really productive. Commissioner Stinson commented on the pervious and impervious question that was raised. He explained that citizens' input is always appreciated and he is honored to serve them. A citizen inquired as to when another Town Hall meeting regarding the pervious and impervious surface issue would take place. Mayor Reeves explained they are always open to have meetings with specific topics of interest and thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Interim City Manager Hogencamp informed everyone the Beautification and Natural Resource Advisory Committee will meet at 6:30 this Thursday, April 27th in the Commission Chamber. Minutes-Town Hall Meeting-April 22, 2017 Page 4 ofS Agenda Item 1C November 13, 2017 Mayor Reeves encouraged the citizens to come out Monday night to the Commission meeting. A citizen commented that she sings with the Heritage Singers of Jacksonville on April301h at 4:00 p.m. at Palms Presbyterian and the theme is color. Commissioner Stinson mentioned Acoustic Nights that will be held tomorrow, April23rd at 6:30 p.m. at Bull Park. Mayor Reeves adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m. ATTEST: Donna L. Bartle, CMC City Clerk Minutes-Town Hall Meeting-April 22, 2017 Mitchell E. Reeves Mayor/Presiding Officer Page 5 ofS Agenda Item 1C November 13, 2017